6 August 2015

Beggars (islanders) cannot be choosers!

Aren’t you surprised at people who are surprised by the very predictable results of elections in the
Maldives?

Think of an island. In practice,
do they have permission to carry out any activity mentioned in decentralization
law to maintain or develop their island?The central government in Male’, is one and only way
through which provision of even basic services necessary for humans to survive
in an island, is allowed. Islands can’t even dump their garbage,
provide water, electricity, even housing plots, without the direct approval of
central government.

Reports note that governance is
even more
centralized after the new constitution and decentralization law was passed.
As in Maldivian history, rural Islands are forced to have a master slave
relationship with government instead of the latter becoming a development
partner who assists and empower them. In
such an autocratic disempowered state, do the islanders in Maldives have any
other choice other than electing representatives of government?

Only when island communities are
allowed to carry out developmental activities as mandated by Decentralization Act,
they will start thinking about who can best assist them, on merit, rather than
electing government backed candidates by default. International or locals,
taking Maldives local elections as a sign of support for any ruling party of
the day, needs to do a reality check!